Jet noise monitoring funded in defense bill

Local activists advocating for real-time noise monitoring of EA-18G Growler jets flown out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey have succeeded in having that language written into the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Trump Friday. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-Everett), a member of the conference committee, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) had sponsored amendments requiring such monitoring “at no fewer than two Navy installations and their associated outlying landing fields on the west coast.” The Growler is named as one of three jets to be monitored.

In her press statement Cantwell said, “Noise from Growler training has caused much concern in local communities. Publicly available real-time monitoring of Whidbey Island and the Olympic National Park will provide transparency and a basis for an accurate discussion on the impacts of the increased flight activity between the Navy, the state and the communities involved.”

Rob Smith, northwest regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association, confirmed Cantwell and Larsen’s determination to have monitoring done at those locations. He pointed out that Larsen was on the conference committee and Cantwell involved throughout. “Their interest is Puget Sound. That is what Cantwell says it means. I think it was written specifically enough,” he said.

Whidbey is only home base for Growlers in the U.S..

“As a member of the conference committee responsible for shepherding this provision to final passage, I am happy the final bill includes real-time noise monitoring language to require the Navy to mitigate the effects of military aircraft noise on private residences, schools and hospitals,” Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, stated in a press release.

Sound Defense Alliance Chair Mark Lundsten, of Anacortes, praised “the leadership of the work of Representatives Larsen, Smith, Kilmer and Senator Cantwell on the NDAA. Our elected officials have listened to voices from across northwest Washington and have acted on our behalf.”

The Secretary of the Navy is required to provide for real-time monitoring of noise from flights at the installations. The results are to be made publicly available on a Department of Defense website by December 2020.

In March, the U.S. Navy announced the addition of 36 Growler aircraft to Whidbey Island, increasing annual airfield activity by up to 33%. Naval Outlying Field Coupeville and Ault Field have expanded to some 112,100 Growler operations annually.

The SDA, a coalition of citizens groups, joined three federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, in criticizing the inadequacy of the Navy’s Environmental Impact Statement, which relied on computer modeling. Last summer State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit against the Navy, arguing that the EIS was not adequate.

For years citizens have criticized Growler noise. In November 2018 the Navy terminated talks with federal, state and local groups and area Tribes about easing the impacts of expanding EA-18G Growler jet training over Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, a central Whidbey Island historic district.

Growlers are for electronic warfare. NAS Whidbey is the training base.